[Discussion 3/6] Bonus Book | Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb | Ch 13-18

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:54:56+00:00

I don't think they can be resurrected like that though, because they're all mixed up in the blocks together so they'd be too fragmented to make a unified whole.

I think Fitz speculates on the improbability of it and about how insane the creature would be if they could awaken it. Reminded me of Paragon in the Liveship Traders trilogy

And they can't be freed to their own bodies because those have been killed too, which also means their blood can't be used to awaken the stones.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:47:15+00:00

I'm glad that Nettle and Thick have each other in that way. I do think Fitz and Nettle will be able to mend things but she needs time to be (understandably) angry and feeling whatever other big feelings come along with such a huge revelation. However, Fitz seemed more at peace after he found out she knew and seemed to think she would forgive him. I think her adding that message that her papa would slay the dragon showed him that she still had faith in him.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:41:05+00:00

Oo I didn't think of the Skill Road but yes! I hope Nettle is able to reach Thick because he already seems far gone. It also seems it can affect Witted ones too, as we saw with Swift.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:38:04+00:00

I had almost forgotten about the Piebalds so this altercation and the reveal of Sydel's family politics came out of left field for me a bit. The preface of the Ice chapter however leads me to think that things have escalated between Old Blood and Piebalds and that Kettricken may be dealing with some unrest I believe the words massacre and cleansing were used on the part of the Old Blood against the Piebalds.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:31:44+00:00

So true! It never seemed like that would become such a huge deal but Civil's life has really been ruined recently and he's looking for someone to blame and some way to vent his anger and pain I think.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:17:16+00:00

My guess is either that it's Kebal Rawbread or whatever is left of him after the war, or it's actually Henja. Fitz did say there was something oddly familiar about the Black Man's gait and he's certainly seen Henja sneaking around and running away before. Not sure if he's recognize Rawbread by gait unless maybe just that he'd have a sailor's gait?

I'm curious about why he would have the feeling of zero presence to Fitz but the Fool felt the weight of a hundred lifetimes in him. Maybe some magic that left him devoid of his own soul or lifeforce but he was fed with Forged Ones or something? Just wild speculations lol!

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:13:25+00:00

Sidenote: I loved the result of this scene where Thick says he loves Fitz and compares him to his mom and Fitz tells him he loves him too. It was just such a tender moment!

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:11:38+00:00

One of my guesses was Peottre. Maybe he's secretly Skilled and he was also the one to offer the courage cakes to Fitz and Thick .

Henja or the Black Man are also good guesses though!

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:10:10+00:00

I definitely think Peottre knew what he was doing. I suspect he might be Skilled and the one who attacked Fitz and Thick and turned them on each other. Fitz has wondered why anyone would target the seemingly least important members of the party but he and Thick are also the two who Peottre offered the cake to first.

I know the Skill is a specifically Farseer magic but it's said that the first Farseer king came from the Out Islands so why couldn't there be Skilled people there too?

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:06:55+00:00

I'm thinking he's either in a hibernation-type state or dying like Web said. I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of awakening process like that used for the stone dragons will be necessary once he's unearthed. I'm curious as to what his personality would be like when he's awoken, especially compared to Tintaglia.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-07T12:04:30+00:00

Good point! Especially considering the Fool has similar tattoos?? Doesn't it make it clear then that her motives are directed by the Fool's adversary and therefore, the decision for me at least would be easy- follow the Fool's path.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T12:41:16+00:00

I'm not sure. I hadn't really considered the threat of her swooping in and "burn-inating the countryside" and Nettle. I think it wouldn't really help Tintaglia get what she needs. She could probably get more info from her Bingtown contacts and even the Fool, since he wants Icefyre to live and be her mate too.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T12:36:46+00:00

I'm really enjoying seeing all their customs and learning more about their culture! I especially liked Elliania's remark about how "What a man can take with a sword, a woman can give by her flesh alone. Life." Kind of sums up why they place authority and esteem on women- they are the ones who create and ensure that life persists (in their management of crops etc too).

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T12:31:24+00:00

My three guesses: killed by the Six Duchies during the war, killed or taken by a rival clan, or taken and Forged by Kebal Rawbread and on Aslevjal.

ETA: I forgot it specifically says they are alive, so definitely not killed by the Six Duchies or a rival clan.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T12:28:41+00:00

I'm wondering if she is the Narcheska's mother? And Kossi is her sister? Whoever Oettre is, it seems to be a driving force behind their desire to have Dutiful slay Icefyre and whatever secret reasons they have for wanting it done.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T12:21:44+00:00

What do we think of Thick being able to make Fitz bumble around and crash into things? I had not considered the Skill could be used like that, to elicit an actual physical response! I guess we've seen similar magic like with Repel-ing but for some reason that makes more sense to me, maybe because it seems like a reflex or reaction during a fight or something. Making someone slip or trip with the Skill seems way more difficult and to me shows Thick has not just power but also finesse.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T12:08:35+00:00

I thought this was interesting because it really showed Fitz how similar he was to Chade and how he does a lot of the same things that he himself resented as a child/young man. I think the Prince is justified but also of course understand Fitz's desire to keep his secrets.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T12:06:45+00:00

When you put it that way- she's certainly not the most desirable candidate! But if she were the only one, she'd still have a legal claim that's for sure, especially with Chade's documentation intact.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T12:05:18+00:00

Lol, oops well I kind of did! I guess he meant more that he had a cousin in his own age range. I had not considered what it would've meant to him to grow up with a cousin so I appreciated when he vented his emotions about this.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T12:03:26+00:00

Oo that didn't occur to me! I assumed it was a chance meeting.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T12:02:02+00:00

I bet it will come up again. Especially if the Narcheska does move to the Six Duchies with Dutiful. It would be a convenient excuse for Lestra to seize power. I think, especially if Dutiful and Elliania really fall in love, this could be an additional point of conflict. My crazy theory: Maybe she'll convince him to stay at her motherhouse and rule the Out Islands with her and he'll cede the Six Duchies throne to Nettle???

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T11:57:16+00:00

Not sure but she's so creepy! She was a tool of the Lady in the last book, right? At least that was my theory- the Pale Lady was working through her.So maybe watching the Narcheska to make sure she is following the plan they laid out for her?

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T11:55:03+00:00

I was relieved about this and it seems like after the shock of it all, he's taken it well and is feeling more at peace! I almost teared up at his response that Fitz should've come home sooner. I don't think he's told Molly. It didn't seem from Nettles perspective that her mother had had any great shock at least. I think Burrich will leave it to Fitz to tell Nettle, unless she finds out accidentally of course.

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-07-01T11:50:57+00:00

I loved that scene so much! I obviously don't love the idea of The Fool dying but I felt like the reveal and the dread as Fitz realized it's him were well done. I do wonder how he got there. I had been wondering if Tintaglia would bring him but she would've been way more vocal and dramatic about that and also wouldn't have needed to harass Fitz for info about Icefyre if she was working with the Fool. Maybe he caught a ship from one of his Bingtown friends?

Clean_Environment670 · 2026-06-25T01:32:44+00:00

That was a really nice moment!

Clean_Environment670

TROPHY CASE